Percutaneous transhepatic stone extraction technique for management of retained biliary tract stones.

Postoperative choledochoscopy is a great armament for management of retained biliary tract stones and intrahepatic stones. Choledochoscopy can also be safely carried out through a sinus tract artificially established by PTBD and other procedures. The number of sessions and the time required for retrieval of stones are reduced with an endoscopic approach carried out through multiple sinus tracts. This endoscopic approach is more reliable because the interior of the biliary tract is visible. If this endoscopic stone extraction technique becomes more routine, better therapeutic results for biliary tract stones may be expected.